Tool Cart/Ebonizing Experiment

I’ve been wanting a roll around tool cart for the mechanical tools for some time, but could never quite bring myself to forking over the several hundreds of dollars for a good one, knowing I could build something just as good for about 1/2 the cost. I’ve also had an itch to experiment with ebonizing wood, so I thought the two would be a fun thing to do last week.

The drawer pulls were make from red oak and ebonized quite nicely with rusty vinegar. The bead board was big box oriental hard wood of some species, which basically repelled the vinegar solution. I found a nice article on Popular Woodworking (July 2009 by Brian Boggs) which called for using Bark Tea.

Got my hands on some and a little play time, and voila, ebonized wood.

Nothing special about the construction of the box, basic AC plywood, leftover oak from another project and a scrap of laminate for the top. Shellac and tung oil finish.

-- Quality: There is hardly anything in the world that some men cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and the people who consider price are this man’s lawful prey.